HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Dense breasts linked to return of breast cancer

StephN · 11-17-2009, 11:57 AM

Lee -
I have posted this before. I would get a letter from my clinic after having a mammogram. It would tell me the test was "normal", but go on to mention that I have "dense breasts and in women with dense breasts some 10% of cancers are missed with mammogram."

The letter ended by suggesting I do SELF CHECKS!

I mentioned this letter at my annual exam to my male GP, who encouraged me to perform self checks, which I did. No embarassment there.

Inflammatory breast cancer is also not detected by mammogram.

I like Laurel's mention of Magnified Views.

11-17-2009, 11:57 AM	#6
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Dense breasts linked to return of breast cancer Lee - I have posted this before. I would get a letter from my clinic after having a mammogram. It would tell me the test was "normal", but go on to mention that I have "dense breasts and in women with dense breasts some 10% of cancers are missed with mammogram." The letter ended by suggesting I do SELF CHECKS! I mentioned this letter at my annual exam to my male GP, who encouraged me to perform self checks, which I did. No embarassment there. Inflammatory breast cancer is also not detected by mammogram. I like Laurel's mention of Magnified Views. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.